Sunday, December 15
Athens, Ga.
2:00 PM
University of Georgia
7-3,0-0SEC
77
vs
48
Furman
6-4,0-0SoCon
1
2
3
4
F
Furman
16
8
10
14
48
Georgia
17
21
19
20
77
Photo by: Tony Walsh
Jones Leads Georgia Past Paladins in Debut, 77-48
December 15, 2019 | Women's Basketball
ATHENS, Ga. - Behind a career-high 20 points from redshirt-sophomore guard Shaniya Jones, the Georgia Lady Bulldog basketball team defeated the Furman Paladins, 77-48, Sunday afternoon in Stegeman Coliseum.
Jones, who made her Georgia debut on Sunday after transferring from Virginia Tech last January, provided a spark to the Lady Bulldog offense, pacing the team in scoring with 20 points, including 11 in her first seven minutes of action. It marks the most points scored by a Lady Bulldog in a debut during the Joni Taylor era and the most since Tasha Humphrey scored 25 in the first game of her career against Furman in 2004. Senior Stephanie Paul was the only other Lady Bulldog to finish in double-figures, tallying 14. Freshman Javyn Nicholson grabbed a team-high seven rebounds.
"I thought we took advantage of the break and got our young players a lot of reps," Georgia Head Coach Joni Taylor said. "They had a better understanding of our offense, our defense, so I'm excited for them that they were able to work on something, and then see it get carried out in the game."
Georgia quickly jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the first two minutes of play thanks to baskets from three different players, before the team went cold. A fast-break layup from sophomore Kaila Hubbard broke a three-minute scoring drought for Georgia with two minutes remaining in the opening period to extend its lead to seven, 15-8.
A 3-point shot from Furman as time expired in the first frame cut the Lady Bulldogs' lead to one, 17-16.
The Paladins tied the game for the first and only time at 19-all off a 3-point basket in the opening minutes of the second quarter. Six points from Paul helped Georgia regain the lead, 25-19. The Lady Bulldogs extended their lead to double-digits for the first time, 31-20, off a shot from Jones' from behind the arc. Jones drained another 3-point shot to extend the Georgia run to 15-1 over 4:38.
While the Paladins were able to cut the deficit to 10 with 1:49 to play, they were never able to get within single to digits, sending Georgia into the locker room leading, 38-24, at the half.
Three-straight baskets from Paul and a layup from redshirt-junior Jenna Staiti gave the Lady Bulldogs their first 20-plus point advantage of the game, 49-28, with four minutes remaining in the third period. Jones continued to provide explosiveness for Georgia throughout the closing minutes of the third frame, including a shot at the buzzer to give Georgia the 57-34 lead heading into the final 10 minutes of play.
The Lady Bulldogs were able to hang onto the 20-plus point lead, pulling ahead by as many as 29 and never allowing Furman to get closer than 23. A shot from senior Ari Henderson sealed the 77-48 victory for Georgia.
Up next, the Bulldogs host UCLA on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2019 at 11 a.m. The matchup will be televised on SEC Network.
Jones, who made her Georgia debut on Sunday after transferring from Virginia Tech last January, provided a spark to the Lady Bulldog offense, pacing the team in scoring with 20 points, including 11 in her first seven minutes of action. It marks the most points scored by a Lady Bulldog in a debut during the Joni Taylor era and the most since Tasha Humphrey scored 25 in the first game of her career against Furman in 2004. Senior Stephanie Paul was the only other Lady Bulldog to finish in double-figures, tallying 14. Freshman Javyn Nicholson grabbed a team-high seven rebounds.
"I thought we took advantage of the break and got our young players a lot of reps," Georgia Head Coach Joni Taylor said. "They had a better understanding of our offense, our defense, so I'm excited for them that they were able to work on something, and then see it get carried out in the game."
Georgia quickly jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the first two minutes of play thanks to baskets from three different players, before the team went cold. A fast-break layup from sophomore Kaila Hubbard broke a three-minute scoring drought for Georgia with two minutes remaining in the opening period to extend its lead to seven, 15-8.
A 3-point shot from Furman as time expired in the first frame cut the Lady Bulldogs' lead to one, 17-16.
The Paladins tied the game for the first and only time at 19-all off a 3-point basket in the opening minutes of the second quarter. Six points from Paul helped Georgia regain the lead, 25-19. The Lady Bulldogs extended their lead to double-digits for the first time, 31-20, off a shot from Jones' from behind the arc. Jones drained another 3-point shot to extend the Georgia run to 15-1 over 4:38.
While the Paladins were able to cut the deficit to 10 with 1:49 to play, they were never able to get within single to digits, sending Georgia into the locker room leading, 38-24, at the half.
Three-straight baskets from Paul and a layup from redshirt-junior Jenna Staiti gave the Lady Bulldogs their first 20-plus point advantage of the game, 49-28, with four minutes remaining in the third period. Jones continued to provide explosiveness for Georgia throughout the closing minutes of the third frame, including a shot at the buzzer to give Georgia the 57-34 lead heading into the final 10 minutes of play.
The Lady Bulldogs were able to hang onto the 20-plus point lead, pulling ahead by as many as 29 and never allowing Furman to get closer than 23. A shot from senior Ari Henderson sealed the 77-48 victory for Georgia.
Up next, the Bulldogs host UCLA on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2019 at 11 a.m. The matchup will be televised on SEC Network.
Team Stats
Furman
UGa
FG%
.305
.485
3FG%
.267
.294
FT%
.727
.800
RB
36
42
TO
19
14
STL
7
7
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
20
FGM
8
3FGM
4
FTM
0
Pts
14
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
9
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballC
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